This semester I have the honor of taking a course with the incomparable Charlene Spretnak titled "The Eco-Social Vision." An interesting side-effect of our conversations (as a capstone to two years of complimentary multilogues at CIIS) is that, when I come across a discussion of postmodernism these days, I'm interested more in the modern than the postmodern. I suspect that after 10 years of postmodern-leaning higher education, I've experienced an interior paradigm shift, so that I no longer find postmodernism(s) frighteningly ambiguous, but rather, I'm astonished by the rigidity of modernism and the degree to which is continues to permeate our culture.
This post was inspired by the following snippet found on the blog of a gentleman coming from a clearly modern Christian perspective. The original source (lost to the ravages of time but not to the Wayback Machine) presents a more nuanced argument that a contemporary Christian church can be both "purpose-driven" (modern) and "emerging" (postmodern). These discussions are interesting to me as a seeker wrestling with my own angels, and as a scholar interested in the collective paradigm shift underway in our culture.
I wouldn't necessarily agree with all of the characterizations of postmodern faith presented below, and offering the viewpoints in pairs sometimes implies judgement through opposition. That being said, I do find it helpful to notice the differences between where we're going and where we've been -- particularly because modernism is still the dominant paradigm in American Christianity, which in turn has immeasurable effects on our government and civil society.
Postmoderns generally want to belong before they believe.
Moderns generally believe before they belong.
Postmodern understanding of truth: Does it work?
Modern understanding of truth: Does it add up?
Postmodern metaphor for faith: Journey.
Modern metaphor for faith: Decision.
Postmodern idea of discipleship: Am I moving in the right direction?
Modern idea of discipleship: Am I learning the right information? Doing the right things?
Postmodern idea of fellowship: Community is the end.
Modern idea of fellowship: Community is a means to an end.
Postmodern idea of evangelism: Incarnational, ask questions.
Modern idea of evangelism: Propositional, presentational, answer questions.
Source: St. Paul's Collegiate Church via Captain Collo
